Say What You Will

I have recently begun reading the novel, Say What You Will, by Cammie McGovern. This is a very interesting novel, because first of all, it will not officially be sold until June 3rd. I was just lucky enough to find the Advanced Reader's Copy at a local bookstore in Michigan. ARC novels are basically just uncorrected proofs printed prior to the book's actual publication date.

Anyways, this novel is very interesting, because it not only has a peculiar plot, but involves two misfits, who I am yet to determine whether or not they just become good friends, or a unique and distinguishing couple. These misfits aren't the usual misfits you would imagine: complicated life at home. Can't relate with others. Just don't fit in. Sure, Matthew and Amy experience all of these struggles, but they aren't the worst of their troubles. Amy: She's crippled and has to use a walker. She has to talk through a computer device. Accompanied by an aid, she walks the walls of her high school. Matthew: He constantly worries over nothing. He has a voice in his head. The voice tells him constantly to go through weird routines such as washing his hands to his elbows 12 times a day. The only person that knows of this voice in his head is Amy. Though fascinating and thought-provoking, the novel's distinct plot isn't the only aspect intrigues me. Only about 80 pages in the book, I am extremely captivated by how McGovern portrays Matthew's intricate mind.

Perplexing and scattered, Matthew's mind seems to be constantly worried over what should be nothing, that is,  to ordinary people of course. For instance, Matthew used to love reading. However, the voice has ruined that for him. Matthew said, "I get worried about reading things the wrong way. Sometimes I have to read the same page over and over. I keep thinking I've made a mistake."(pg.49) I find this action of reading a page over and over from fear of mistake, rather unusually compulsive.  However, it's not his fault. The voice in Matthew's head makes him perform compulsive actions like this. "He could hear the voice now. You missed a word. Go back. If you don't go back nothing will make sense."(pg.49) As you can see from this quote, the voice in Matthews mind is very controlling over Matthew's actions.Throughout the 80 pages I have read so far, I have noticed that Matthew constantly checks if the faucet at his house is off and constantly counts things and goes through other weird routines throughout his day, which I also find quite compulsive. As I read on, I have also noticed that the voice gets slightly more aggressive and disparaging. Immediately after finding out that he was born a day before Amy in the same hospital, the voice convinces Matthew that he is responsible for Amy becoming crippled at birth. The voice tells Matthew," You were there, the voice said. You were there when it happened. He waited for the inevitable: It was probably your fault." (pg. 50) Reading this quote completely convinced me that Matthew had a serious mental disorder. This quote showed me how Matthew's mind quickly draws to irrational and illogical conclusions. I know what you're thinking: A. This guy is cray B. This voice thing is kinda creepy. After learning about this terrifying voice in Matthew's head, I suspect that he is either schizophrenic or has OCD. The problem: Matthew is in denial that he has a mental problem and will not try to find help for it.

Below are links I found that are about OCD and Schizophrenia:
OCD Symptoms
Schizophrenia Symptoms

Angels & Demons Connections

In the novel, Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown, I have noticed that the author makes very important connections to the world. Dan Brown clearly expresses through his work, different ideas and concepts of religion, science, and how the world began. These ideas are connected to society, because just like people in our world, characters in the book believe in different ideas of how the world started. For instance, the biggest idea about religion and science the author describes, is that of Leonardo Vetra's. This idea is that religion and science are actually closely related, and both prove the same concept of how the world came to be. Basically, Vetra believes that science proves God's existence. This idea is very unlike what other characters in the book thought. Most characters in the novel believed in a different idea of how the world came to be. These ideas were either religious or scientific, but definitely not both. Just like in society, different people in the novel believe in the big bang theory, God, evolution and unique ideas like that of Leonardo Vetra's. This is why this book closely relates to our world today.

The link below is  the trailer for the movie version of this novel:

Column Review

Right now, I am currently in search of new books to read, so if anyone has any suggestions, that would be really helpful. Since I can't analyze a book I've been reading, I've decided to write a short alternative ending to the most recent novel I have read, Eleanor and Park:

Eleanor

After this experience, I had realized Park had not only just made my life better. He saved it. There had never been a scarier moment I had experienced in my life. However, this one was different. Scary? Of course. Was I scared? No. Of course I would've been, if it weren't for Park. I can't help but imagine what it would be like if he weren't there. My disgusting stepdad would've caught me running away. I would have to stay in that messed up house, which all the neighbors thought was sketchy. I could see it in Park's parents' eyes. Anyways, who knows what he would've done to me. To Maisie. Oh god, I can't even think of what he would do to my little siblings. Thank God Park was there to protect me. Who really surprised me, was Tina. I later found out that she was the one who called the cops when Park and me were getting chased by my step dad. After all those days of constant bullying, stealing my clothes in the locker room, and covering my locker with pads that had those awful words written on them, I would've never expected her to show kindness as great as this. Anyways, I'm glad my REAL family got out of that wretched house. My stepdad is locked up in jail, where that piece of dirt deserves to be. I have Park to thank. And strangely, Tina as well.

I took in account some of the key ideas from the discussions in the link below, to make this short ending:

Eleanor and Park Discussion

A Letter To Rainbow Rowell

Dear Rainbow Rowell,

         I had recently finished your novel, Eleanor & Park. This novel was one of my all-time favorite novels. I really liked it because of it's unique, yet tragic story line, and the peculiar couple that was portrayed in the novel. I think you illustrated an excellent example of how love can be between two different people. I also really liked how you emphasized Eleanor's troubled childhood through spurts, causing the readers to try and put the pieces together by themselves.
         I didn't only write this letter to compliment you, but to also urge you to write a sequel to Eleanor & Park. I am really interested in what happens after the events that occurred in Eleanor & Park. What ever happens to Eleanor's family when she runs away? Do Eleanor and Park end up drifting apart while Eleanor is away? Most importantly, will Eleanor and Park ever see or be with each other again? Thank you for taking time to read this letter. I hope you respond soon!

                                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                                  Isabel Cepeda
              P.S.
    I really leave reading your Q&A on your blog!

Eleanor & Park Final Reflection

I had just recently finished the novel Eleanor & Park, and absolutely loved it. I really love how the author, Rainbow Rowell, created a love story that is both incredibly peculiar and tragic. First of all, I thought this love story was very peculiar, because in most novels, the two love-interests are usually two attractive people who are the same race, with similar problems and ideas, who already seem as if they are meant for each other once they are introduced in the novel. However, the two love-interests in Eleanor & Park couldn't be further from this stereotype.

In the novel, Eleanor is first described as ,"Not just new-but big and awkward. With crazy hair, bright red on top of curly. And she was dressed like.... like she wanted people to look at her. Or maybe she didn't get what a mess she was. She had on a plaid shirt, a man's shirt, with had a dozen weird necklaces hanging around her neck and scarves wrapped around her wrists." (pg.8) Eleanor's weight is also described on page 15," 'I had been hungry all the years', she read. A few kids laughed. Jesus, Park thought, only Mr.Stressman would make a chubby girl read a poem about eating on her first day of class." According to these two quotes, you can picture Eleanor as an awkward, chubby girl, with crazy, curly red hair, who wears weird clothes.

In the novel, Park is described as," Weird Asian kid. She was pretty sure he was Asian. It was hard to tell. He had green eyes. And skin in the color of sunshine through honey. Maybe he was Filipino. Was that in Asia, Probably. Asian's out-of-control huge." (pg. 53) In the novel, Park is described as a half-asian kid, with green eyes, and honey-colored skin. In the novel, he is described to be a part of the social heirarchy in his school, but he secludes himself because of lack of interest. Not the usual star-crossed lovers you would imagine right? I believe that Rainbow Rowell made this couple very diverse in both race and appearance, to show that relationships can be between anyone, as long as the romantic feelings are mutual. I believe she is trying to show that a relationship doesn't have to be a perfect, cliche in order to be successful, which I think is a very interesting and accurate point.

The link below Rainbow Rowell's personal blog with Q&A about the book
Rainbow Rowell's Blog

"Grandmother says slain girl just an ordinary teen" By Krista Ramsy

In this article, a Grandmother talks about how her ordinary 14-year-old granddaughter , got shot. She was shot by another 14-year-old while waiting for her parents to pick her up from school.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/krista-ramsey/2014/04/05/krista-ramsey-tyann-adkins/7373013/

Best written line: "Long, who lives in Avondale, knows that many factors played into her eldest grandchild's death: an adolescent with a criminal record and a gun; the whereabouts of the apartment's owner; and her granddaughter in an apartment complex about which her family had concerns."

In this line in the article, Krista Ramsy uses a very interesting sentence syntax. Instead of just using the usual sentence structure of a subject and predicate, she uses a colon and then begins to list of reasons that might've lead to Tyann's death. I think this sentence syntax fits will with this certain sentence, because it makes it easier for the author to write a list without using run-on or long and involved sentences. This sentence syntax also makes it easier for the reader to analyze the information the author is providing. I also noticed that the formal diction used in this sentence evokes a more serious tone.  This makes the reader fully understand that the event the author is writing  about , is indeed, serious, therefore allowing the reader to look at the situation through the author's serious point of view.

Krista Ramsey has a very relaxed and elaborate writing style. This means that she fully describes certain events, characters, or scenarios, making it relate-able to the reader. She also does not write in a too-formal or robotic manner, but more of a casual, relaxed manner. An example of her writing style from  "Ramsey: For better vision, kids need time outdoors", is "The kid who used to walk home from school looking at houses and trees now rides home staring at a screen not much bigger than his hand. The teenager who used to research at the library or hang out with friends outdoors now does her studying and socializing in front if a computer in her bedroom." An example to show Ramsey's writing style from "Ramsey: Super Bowl QBs score points for great style" is,"At work,"Casual Fridays" have morphed into sundresses and golf shirts everyday. And almost no one dresses up any more for things that were once considered something of an event- dinner at a nice restaurant, religious services, plane flights." Finally, an example of Ramsey's writing style from "Grandmother says slain girl just an ordinary teen" is,"Had you met Tyann Adkins on the morning of March 30, you'd say she was like any other 14-year-old girl, her grandmother, Leatress Long, says. Hooked on Facebook. Hated getting up for school. Adored her 1-year-old brother and 10-year-old twin sisters and fussed at them constantly. Helped herself to her grandmother's leftovers whenever she visited. Was rarely seen without a string of fake pearls. Knew how to wheedle rides home and other favors from a large extended family who doted on her. And had discovered the pleasure of doing her hair and getting her nails done." All three of these quotes are examples of Ramsey describing someone or a scenario very thoroughly, allowing the reader to picture this actual person or scenario. These quotes also present Ramsey writing in a very casual way. This shows that Ramsey, indeed, has a very relaxed and descriptive writing style.

Three Questions I Would Ask Krista Ramsey:
-How did you develop your writing style?
-Why did you choose to write about these three articles?
-What was your style writing like before your education experience?

Eleanor & Park

In the novel, Eleanor & Park, I really like how the author, Rainbow Rowell, highlights the struggle of the two main characters, Eleanor and Park. Rowell does a really good job at giving the reader a good sense of the individual personalities of Eleanor and Park. She does so by alternating the point of views of each of the characters in each chapter. Because of this, I can understand each of the characters' situations when they are both away and with each other, much more easily.

I also really like how the author portrayed these to characters to be ordinary high school students, with problems similar to actual problems some highschoolers may actually have. For instance, Eleanor's struggle is that she lives with her mom and her step dad, Richie, who she secretly despises. Eleanor soon notices that her mother has changed ever since they moved in with Richie. Some high schoolers may have had experiences similar to Eleanor's. An example of a moment where Eleanor notices changes in her mother is,"Eleanor wasn't complaining about not having to eat with Richie.....But now it was like their mom wanted them all out of the way before he came home. She even made him a totally different dinner. The kids would get grilled cheese, and Richie would get steak." (p.26) As you can see from this quote, Eleanor is noticing negative changes in her mother. I infer that these changes are a cause of Eleanor's mother moving in with Richie. 

Analyzing and Connecting

        

   Anagrams by Lorrie Moore is a very interesting novel that stresses the struggles of the daily life of a man and a woman, who are constantly falling in and out of love. The woman, who's name is Benna, has a personality that can be similar to a handful of other people's personalities, including mine. Benna is a very caring,but slightly judgmental person, who isn't very good at communicating her feelings toward other people. Benna can also be insecure from time to time when she tries to be "good enough" for Gerard. An example of one of Benna's most insecure moments is,"I was not large enough for Gerard. I was small, lumpy, anchored with worry, imploded. He didn't want me, he wanted Macy's; like Aeneas or Ulysses, he wanted the anonymity and freedom to wander purchaseless from island to island." Benna feels as if she is not good enough to be the person that makes Gerard want to settle down. Not only that, but Benna fails to tell Gerard these feelings, showing she isn't very good at communicating her feelings toward other people. I am very similar to Benna in some ways, because like her, I occasionally fail to express my feelings to others. I am also very caring, and I hate to admit it, but slightly judgmental.

           

          Anagrams can also connect to the daily problems which are present in society today. Anagrams is about a man and a woman who have a relationship that seems to constantly ebb and flow. At one point in the novel, Gerard may love Benna, but Benna doesn't feel the same, or Benna may not love Gerard , but Gerard may not feel the same, or maybe the both love each other, but neither of them know of the other's feelings. A point in the novel where Gerard loves Benna, but she doesn't feel the same way is ," "Look. I'm going through life alone now," she said.  "I can't think of men or marriage or children. I work to hard." A point in the novel when Benna loves Gerard, but Gerard doesn't feel the same is," [Gerard is talking] "You make me feel like I'm in a tiny store and all I want to do is relax, look, and enjoy, but because I'm the only potential customer there, you keep coming over and pressuring me." This fluctuating relationship is very similar to daily problems present in society today, because there are plenty of situations where two people's relationship is complicated and fluctuates, just like Gerard's and Benna's. 

Blogging Reflection

Newer Blog Post  Older Blog Post

Goodreads really helped me gain suggestions for new reading material, because it accounted for what I liked in books, and gave me suggestions based on my own interests. I found that I was actually interested in most of the books that Goodreads had suggested for me. Goodreads has made it easier for me to pick novels, by eliminating most of the choices that I wouldn’t enjoy. I will try to read some of the books that Goodreads has selected for me, throughout the school year. One thing I struggled with through this experience, was that it was hard to find time to read, because I am usually very busy after school. To overcome this struggle, I just brought my independent reading novel wherever I went, just in case there was any down time for me to read. I also read my novel during class if I finished a test early. I would also try to read more during the weekend, since I’m not as busy then.  Finally, strengths I had with blogging, was that I found that I am very good at analyzing text and making connections between the novel and another subject.

             I when looking over all of my blog posts, I have noticed that the quality of my writing has immensely improved throughout the course of this trimester. I have improved in analyzing text, writing in more detail, making more interesting connections between the novel and society today, and using more and advanced and “colorful” vocabulary. As you can see, in my older blog post, I did not pull out any quotes from the text, let alone analyze it. I basically just briefly summarized what was going on in my novel, with less detail than I did in my newer post. In my older blog post, I also made a simple connection between Angels & Demons, and another one of Dan Brown’s novels. However, I didn't go in depth about this connection as much as I did in the connection in my newer blog post. I have also noticed that I used very boring and straight-forward words in my older blog. However, in my newer blog, I pulled out quotes from the text and actually analyzed it in depth, unlike before in my older blog. I also made very complex connections between ideas in the book and actual conspiracy theories about the Illuminati, which are still present today. I also noticed that in my newer blog post, I used more advanced and “colorful” words. For instance, instead of just using “says” or “said”, I used the word “proposes”. I also used words such as “infiltrate”, “convergence”, “ancient”, and more. Over all, thanks to the influence of this blogging experience, my writing has improved in multiple ways.

Letter To Dan Brown

Dear Mr. Brown,
        
         I am currently reading your novel, Angels & Demons, and I am extremely impressed. I really like how you supplied information about the "Illuminati" in your story. I also really like how you included a lot of suspense and extra twists and turns. I also noticed that in this novel, you have made your writing engaging and exciting throughout the entire novel. I haven't really come across many boring parts at all and I can really picture all of the suspensful and action-packed parts in the novel. I'm only about halfway through the book, and I've already been surprised multiple times. I look forward to reading more of your novels.
                                   
                                         
                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                               Isabel Cepeda

Angels & Demons Opinion

I think the novel, Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown is very well-written and very intersting. I really like how Dan Brown includes actual information from history to give the reader background information, so he or she can fully understand the story. I also like how Dan Brown's writing makes you actually think and predict what is going to happen later on in the novel. I also noticed that he makes his writing exciting and engaging throughout the whole novel and doesn't really have many boring or low-points in his novel. His writing really engages the reader, which is a very good quality to have as a writer. When reading Angels & Demons, Dan Brown not only intrigued me with his story, but also helped me improve as a writer.

"Blizzard Bag" Blogpost

So far in the novel I am reading called, Angels & Demons, the group called the Illuminati, has resurfaced and has stolen the antimatter that was created by Vittoria Vetra and her father. However, in a certain amount of hours, this antimatter will create an explosion large enough to devour all of Vatican City. Not only that, but the Illuminati has kidnapped  four very important cardinals the day of the Conclave. The Conclave is a day in which the new Catholic Pope is to be selected. The person who kidnaps them informs everyone that when the Conclave begins, he will have these four cardinals murdered in public at four different parts of the Vatican City.In order to stop this, Vittoria Vetra and Langdon are in search of  "The Church of Illumination". Langdon informs Vittoria that to find this church, they have to find the four markers in the Vatican City that lead to it. These four markers are located in churches and represent the four elements, air, waiter, fire, and earth. Langdon infers that these four markers that lead to the church, are the places where the four cardinals are going to be murdered. Langdon and Vittoria are in search of these four markers to save the four cardinals, while the Vatican City authorities are in search of the antimatter to save thousands of lives.

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, I am enjoying the story line very much. I am very interested in the idea that people from rival houses, have fallen in love. I'm very interested in this, because I think that their love may be able to stop the rivalry between Capulets and Montegues. However, I am concerned, because I think that the Montegues and Capulets will momentarily disapprove and go to great lengths to stop the romance between Romeo and Juliet.

The Illuminati

I have noticed that in the novel, Angels and Demons, an actual ancient group that may have been a myth from thousands of years ago, The Illuminati, has been mentioned severel times. The Illuminati is an important part of this novel, because this group is the main villain in the novel. In the novel, The Illuminati is described as a very clever and educated clan. I really like how the author, Dan Brown, proposes in the novel that The Illuminati was and is a real group. He even traces conspiracy theories that people have made in real life about the Illuminati, back to his novel. In the novel, one of the main characters, Dr. Langdon, suggests that the Illuminati had a secret meeting place in which only Illuminati members could meet. Illuminati members would find this secret meeting place by searching for markers in churches around the Vatican City that would lead to another, until Illuminati members were finally lead to the secret meeting place, also known as The Church of Illumination. It states this in the novel on page 181. It states,"Each piece of course was a marker...subtly pointing to the next church...where the next marker awaited. If an Illuminati candidate could find the first church and the marker for Earth, he could follow it to air...and Then to fire...then to water...and finally to the Church of Illumination."  By looking through multiple articles, I have found this idea of how to find the Church of Illumination to be an actual theory that people believe in today, which I found very interesting. Dr.Langdon also suggests that the american dollar has an Illuminati symbol on it. In the novel, Langdon states that the pyramid on the dollar represents a convergence upward toward Illumination. The eye above the pyramid was apparently called the Illuminati's "shining delta". The eye symbolizes ability to infiltrate and watch all things. Also, the triangle the eye is located in is also the Greek letter delta, which means change or transition.Finally, underneath the pyramid, there is writing that states, "Novus Ordo Seclorum." This means "New Secular Order." The New Secular Order is what the Illuminati wanted, for they were a very anti-religious group, and wanted the world to be rid of religion. This is an actual Illuminati theory that people believe in today, which I find very inte

resting that the author included this theory in his writing.